Mikepaul,
I don’t have the 15a’s. I’ve demo’d them a bunch of times, and always enjoy them. One Day, maybe, just maybe...
You can find them for "reasonable" pricing (though 15k is still crazy to spend and I can’t believe I consider it).
I have a pass labs xp-12, it’s nice. It’s very neutral in my opinion. Frankly I think it’s more neutral that the 250.8.
(neutral always gets thrown around, by that I mean I don’t think it really adds much to the sound). I’ve used it with a few different amps, and generally hear subtle differences. Where I’ve owned other pre-amps and feel that the pre amp affects the sound.
My room is only 13 x 17, it’s treated well, it’s closed but my speakers run on the short wall.
I tend to listen a bit loud, I like a big sound, I run my bass a bit "hot", but I also don’t love using a subwoofer with my mains. I like detail, I don’t love rolled off highs, however I really really don’t like when cymbals become to "forward" in a mix. So while I like detail I get real touchy about cymbals. I do believe that box speakers have colorations in the upper mids and highs for sure. I also have found I do not like Be tweeters by in large. I know it's the implementation... but I just always feel the tweeter becomes the "show" on those speakers. Nice in a showroom, nice to show off to your friends but after a few hours... too much tweeter.
I tend to like a little "thicker" sound.
I just sold off my DynAudio Contour 60’s. They are a very good speaker. They do a lot of what I like, the Esotar is detailed without being hot, they have a lot of bass. The biggest issue I had was the soundstage while very defined for me was a bit narrow and didn’t have that "big" sound. It’s quite possible I like a slightly exaggerated soundstage. Which, considering I love going to concerts - makes sense.
Thought about JBL M2’s (which are spectacular speakers, but require pro-amps, DSP, and frankly are a fairly cheap cabinet and build). But holding off on those.
I also never thought I would spend even 10k on speakers, so for me to go north of that, it’s going to take something really special, or a different job!
I tend to believe in diminishing returns, particularly in audio.
I think there are some very good new speakers in the 3k range (most internet direct) same with amps.
then there is the 7-10k range.
Then I tend to think there is a final pretty big jump around 25k.
After that... I think what you get is better, but the differences become really expensive to hear.
I don’t have the 15a’s. I’ve demo’d them a bunch of times, and always enjoy them. One Day, maybe, just maybe...
You can find them for "reasonable" pricing (though 15k is still crazy to spend and I can’t believe I consider it).
I have a pass labs xp-12, it’s nice. It’s very neutral in my opinion. Frankly I think it’s more neutral that the 250.8.
(neutral always gets thrown around, by that I mean I don’t think it really adds much to the sound). I’ve used it with a few different amps, and generally hear subtle differences. Where I’ve owned other pre-amps and feel that the pre amp affects the sound.
My room is only 13 x 17, it’s treated well, it’s closed but my speakers run on the short wall.
I tend to listen a bit loud, I like a big sound, I run my bass a bit "hot", but I also don’t love using a subwoofer with my mains. I like detail, I don’t love rolled off highs, however I really really don’t like when cymbals become to "forward" in a mix. So while I like detail I get real touchy about cymbals. I do believe that box speakers have colorations in the upper mids and highs for sure. I also have found I do not like Be tweeters by in large. I know it's the implementation... but I just always feel the tweeter becomes the "show" on those speakers. Nice in a showroom, nice to show off to your friends but after a few hours... too much tweeter.
I tend to like a little "thicker" sound.
I just sold off my DynAudio Contour 60’s. They are a very good speaker. They do a lot of what I like, the Esotar is detailed without being hot, they have a lot of bass. The biggest issue I had was the soundstage while very defined for me was a bit narrow and didn’t have that "big" sound. It’s quite possible I like a slightly exaggerated soundstage. Which, considering I love going to concerts - makes sense.
Thought about JBL M2’s (which are spectacular speakers, but require pro-amps, DSP, and frankly are a fairly cheap cabinet and build). But holding off on those.
I also never thought I would spend even 10k on speakers, so for me to go north of that, it’s going to take something really special, or a different job!
I tend to believe in diminishing returns, particularly in audio.
I think there are some very good new speakers in the 3k range (most internet direct) same with amps.
then there is the 7-10k range.
Then I tend to think there is a final pretty big jump around 25k.
After that... I think what you get is better, but the differences become really expensive to hear.